Folding closet or wardrobe



(No Model,) 2 Sheets-Sheet l. 'J. J. RADC LIF FE.

FOLDING CLOSET 0R WARDROBE.

N0. 126,957 Patented Apr. 29, 1890.

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(No Model.)

J. J. RADOLIFPE. FOLDING CLOSET 0R WARDROBE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JOHN J. RADCLIFFE, OF LONG HILL, CONNECTICUT.

FOLDING CLOSET OR WARDRbBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,957, dated April 29, 1890.

Application filed May 18, 1889. Serial No.311,2l1. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN J. RADCLIFFE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Hill, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Closets and IVardrobes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to produce a wardrobe or similar piece of furniture more especially adapted for the corners of rooms, the essential requirement being that the device shall be neat and attractive in appearance, simple and inexpensive to produce, and so constructed that it may be readily folded into small compass for transportation.

With these ends in view I have devised the novel construction of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, numbers being used to denote the several parts.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my novel folding closet or wardrobe set up as in use; Fig. 2, an elevation with the front removed; Fig. 3, a cross-section on the line am in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a cross-section on the line y y in Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a plan view of the sides folded as in transportation; Fig. 6, a plan view, the top being removed, of another form in which I have carried my invention into effect; Fig. 7, a plan view in the folded position; Fig. 8, an inverted plan view of the top removed; and Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate forms of hooks used to secure the parts in position when the closet or wardrobe is set up.

1 denotes the front; 2, the sides; 3, the top, and 4 a shelf resting on cleats 5, attached to cross-pieces of the'frame-work. The sides consist, essentially, of frame-work (denoted specifically by 2%) having covering material secured thereto. In practice it is quite sufficient to make the framework of three-quarter-inch or inch stuif. The covering may be of any suitable material, depending, of course, upon the price at which it is desired to sell the completed article. In the very cheapest grades the sides consist, simply, of thick muslin tacked to the frame-work. In the drawings I have shown the sides as consisting of an ornamental front piece, which I have indicated by 8, and on its under side are cleats 9, which just fit within the sides and front, so that when the top is in position the article is firmly braced together.

When the article is to be used as an ordinary wardrobe for hanging clothes, I provide one or more of the cross-pieces of the framework with removable pins 10. Above these pins are cleats 5, upon which the shelf rests. It will of course be apparent that the number of cross-pieces and the number of shelves are wholly immaterial so far as my invention is concerned. Any number of cross-pieces may be used, and each cross-piece may be provided with cleats 5 to support shelves 4, thus making of the article a shelf-closet.

As I have stated, the parts are made to fold together for transportation. ner in which they are hinged, however, is not of the essence of my invention.

In the form shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5 the side pieces are shown as hinged together at the back, as at 11. In this form the front is made separate from the sides, and in setting up is connected thereto by hooks 12 engaging staples 13. IVhen it is desired to take down this form of closet or wardrobe, the top and front are first removed. Then the shelf or shelves are taken down and the pins removed from the cross-pieces. The sides are then folded together, as in Fig. 5. In the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the side pieces are both hinged to the front and fold together,

as in Fig. 7, the sides being connected together at the back by a hook 14:, preferably constructed as shown in Fig. v9, and engaging a staple, as in the other form. In taking down this form of closet or wardrobe the top is first removed. Then the sides are disconnected at the back and the shelf or shelves removed, after which the sides are folded inward upon the front, as in Fig. 7. It will of course be apparent that changes in the details of c011- struction may be made without departing from the principle of my invention.

The exact man- When it is desired to have a square wardrobe, I preferably hinge a back to one of the sides in the manner shown in Fig. 9. The top is of course made to correspond with the shape 5 of the parallel sides and ends, the cleats just fitting within them, as in the other form. This form, being such an obvious variation and within the province of any workman, whether skilled or unskilled, is not deemed ID to require illustration.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- A folding wardrobe consisting of rigid sides and front, a part of the vertical edges of which I5 are permanently connected by hinges and the 

